Evansville baseball has won its first 2 Missouri Valley Conference tournament games

No. 2-seeded University of Evansville baseball won by mercy rule, 21-2, over No. 3 Dallas Baptist in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament late Friday night.

That brings UE's run total to 30 in two tournament games. Friday’s outburst broke a stadium record in Springfield, Missouri, just hours after Missouri State set it with 19. Fittingly, the Aces next will face Missouri State at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“Just a remarkable effort and performance from our club tonight against one of the best teams in the conference and in the country,” Evansville coach Wes Carroll said. “I was just really proud of our guys putting themselves in good positions.”

Here are three reasons the Purple Aces earned the dominant win.

Evansville baseball: The Aces won their opener against Indiana State

Eric Roberts, Tanner Craig had big games

Several Aces had standout performances, though none were as strong as Roberts and Craig. In two of UE's three big innings, Roberts contributed significantly to the effort.

In the first, the All-MVC Honorable Mention honoree had a three-run triple after Dallas Baptist's centerfielder missed while diving to make the catch. Then he had a three-run home run to give Evansville an 11-run lead at the time.

“Eric Roberts has been really special in Missouri Valley Conference play,” Carroll said. “He’s pretty locked in right now, seeing the ball extremely well.”

Craig, UE’s all-time leader in home runs, added two more to his tally against the Patriots for his 15th and 16th shots of the season. His first was a solo homer to left field before adding a three-run shot to right to give the Aces a 20-run lead.

Craig also is chasing the program doubles record.

“(Craig’s) eyes can really recognize pitches, and he hit some mistakes. There were some pitches that were left up in the zone that he made them pay,” Carroll said. “He’s got some real juice in his bat. He’s a special hitter.”

The Aces were dominant at the plate

UE finished with 15 hits and mounted a seven-run first inning, a six-run fourth inning and an eight-run fifth inning.

“In order to make a run in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, you have to have an offense that can apply some pressure and get out in front,” Carroll said. “Our offense the last two games has been able to get out in front and really provide a lot of support for our starters.”

Coming into the tournament, UE was No. 88 in RPI. Evansville was in the low 60s before dropping two of three games to Dallas Baptist in a series earlier in May. Still, the Aces will need to win the championship to secure an automatic bid into an NCAA regional.

Standout pitching didn't need much run support

MVC Pitcher of the Year Nick Smith returned to the mound for the Aces and threw four innings as he got some help from his defense along the way. It was Smith’s first start since leaving after 11 pitches with soreness in his forearm last weekend.

Smith conceded one run in the top of the first. He ultimately allowed five hits and one walk. The four Aces pitchers allowed nine hits in the seven-inning game.

Carroll said Smith had experienced some tightness but he could have probably pitched another inning. UE’s lead allowed for Carroll to make the change and keep Smith out of harm's way.

“For him to ride that mental and physical rollercoaster ride over the past six days, to come out here and perform against a Dallas Baptist lineup that’s pretty special, he’s just kind of giving us a chance, and that’s all you can ask of your starter,” Carroll said. “

The win was given to Shane Harris. He threw one inning with three strikeouts on 17 pitches.

“Just so proud of Shane Harris. Shane came in and was able to make some big pitches,” Carroll said. “He had some pretty electric stuff tonight.”

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville baseball blows out Dallas Baptist in MVC tournament